PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alex The Lion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

The Lion
vs
Alvarez

169 cm
29
145 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

165 cm
22
146 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

AnonymouS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Alex The Lion!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alex Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yuuki Gou and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good leg kick by Alvarez there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Alvarez lands a nice leg kick that just misses The Lion's sensitive parts.
Alvarez lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Alvarez clinches up against the cage.
The Lion misses with the head strike.
Alvarez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The Lion lands with a left to the head.
Alvarez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Alvarez misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch on the inside from The Lion fails to land.
Alvarez working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Alvarez pushes The Lion back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for The Lion.
Alvarez misses with a hook from the clinch.
The Lion throws a head punch that misses.
Alvarez can't get the takedown.
Alvarez misses with a punch to the body.
Alvarez lands on the inside with an uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The Lion misses with some punches.
The Lion swings wildly with an uppercut but Alvarez uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez lands a hook to the side of the head.
Alvarez blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alvarez.
Alvarez working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The Lion blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short left from Alvarez.
Alvarez tries to score a body lock takedown but The Lion shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A nice left hand lands by Alvarez.
The Lion gets through Alvarez's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The Lion fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Alvarez goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
The Lion is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Alex The Lion has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Alvarez.
The Lion fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Alvarez scores with a shot to the side of The Lion's head.
The Lion gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Alvarez.
Alvarez blocking some punches.
Alvarez misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Lion lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from The Lion.
The Lion pressing his opponent against the cage.
Alvarez is trying to drag The Lion to the mat but The Lion just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The Lion gets through Alvarez's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Alvarez.
Alvarez lands a shoulder strike.
The Lion has a couple of punches blocked by Alvarez.
Alvarez misses with the head strike.
The Lion swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from The Lion fails to land.
Alvarez drops down looking for an ankle pick but The Lion pulls his leg out and moves away.
The Lion takes one on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from The Lion misses.
Alvarez lands with a good body shot.
Alvarez shoots for a double leg takedown but The Lion sprawls well. He's pushed Alvarez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Alvarez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts The Lion as he jumps to the side.
A telegraphed right hand from The Lion misses the target.
The Lion lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Alvarez backs up against the cage.
The Lion lands a nice looking body shot.
The Lion throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Alvarez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The Lion sets himself, and Alvarez steps forward looking for the clinch! The Lion avoids it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez drives through with a takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Alvarez wants to pass the guard but The Lion is keeping the position.
Alvarez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Alvarez is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Alvarez throwing strikes from guard but The Lion blocks nicely.
Alvarez trying to control the position from guard on top but The Lion is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alvarez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alex Alvarez will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Alvarez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Alvarez tries to counter with a clinch but The Lion shakes him off and moves away.
Nice sprawl there from The Lion as Alvarez shoots in.
Alex Alvarez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Alvarez connects with a single shot there.
The Lion misses with a two punch combination.
Alvarez scores with a punch to the head.

Alvarez feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Alvarez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Alvarez drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but The Lion manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Alvarez has The Lion in his guard.

Alvarez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. The Lion manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Alvarez content to stall in guard here.
Alvarez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Alvarez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Alvarez drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but The Lion manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Alvarez has The Lion in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Alvarez has control of The Lion's left arm, preventing The Lion from doing any damage.
The Lion preventing the sweep.
We've been hearing good reports from The Lion's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The Lion postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The Lion working some strikes from top position.
Alvarez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Alvarez pulls The Lion in close to prevent any damage.
Alvarez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. The Lion manages to get himself to full guard.

The Lion can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Alvarez controls the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alvarez looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The Lion keeping moving, preventing Alvarez from controlling successfully.
Alvarez looking to pass the guard.

Alvarez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Alvarez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Alvarez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Alvarez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as The Lion works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Alvarez controlling from the top position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Alvarez tries to free his leg and advance position but The Lion is retaining full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Alex The Lion is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Alvarez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The Lion misses with a lunging right hand

and Alvarez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Alvarez.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alvarez is looking to work some ground and pound but The Lion has wrist control.
The Lion not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Alvarez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

The Lion throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The Lion misses with a series of wild punches.
Alvarez drops down looking to force a counter takedown but The Lion defends it well.
Alvarez dips to his left and cracks The Lion with an uppercut!

Alvarez shoots in and bounces The Lion off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The Lion keeping moving, preventing Alvarez from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez wants to control from the top but The Lion keeps moving.
The Lion looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Alvarez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Alvarez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Alvarez won't allow The Lion to sweep him here.
Alvarez wants to control from the top but The Lion keeps moving.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Alvarez advances position into side control!
The Lion is not content to let Alvarez control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The Lion avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Alvarez.

Alvarez wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by The Lion, who protects the arm well.
An elbow from Alvarez crashes against the mat.
Alvarez is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt The Lion will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Alvarez tries for a kimura but The Lion is defending well.

Alvarez wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by The Lion, who protects the arm well.
The Lion tries to improve position but can't.
Alvarez throws an elbow but The Lion slips to the side and avoids it well.

Alvarez tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Alvarez has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez in side control, throwing shots but The Lion defends.
Alvarez advances to full mount.

Alvarez looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Alvarez tries to control but The Lion wriggling away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Alvarez looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Alvarez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Alvarez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Alvarez!
Alex Alvarez bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.